PT: Obtuse positions that make change impossible.
In a harsh critique of the PT (Workers' Party), political scientist Robson Sávio Reis Souza highlights that "a part" of the party "does not accept criticism," believes it is always right, and, after having distanced itself from its base, "uses the old politics of blackmail or victimization to always remain where it is"; "Acting in this way – and not opening itself to structural changes and course corrections – the party is doomed to become a mere mediator between the interests of the elite and the interests of the workers," criticizes the professor, in a text published on his Facebook page, one day after the party issued a statement, signed by its president, Gleisi Hoffmann, against the removal of Senator Aécio Neves.
Let's be honest: a part of the PT (Workers' Party) definitely doesn't accept criticism. They're always right; they're always the victims of the conspiracy; they're always the guardians of good politics; they always make the correct analysis of the situation, and everyone else is always wrong. They are incapable of recognizing errors and missteps. They solemnly ignore that the party – which is the most democratic group among the others – also has elites with conservative and petty worldviews. That these party elites have long distanced themselves from the grassroots and sometimes use the old politics of blackmail or victimization to always remain where they are, even making renewal within the party impossible. They are always right... They are the owners of the truth!
By acting in this way – and not opening itself to structural changes and course corrections – the party is doomed to become a mere mediator between the interests of the elite and the interests of the workers; that is, to continue building fragile bridges between two worlds that do not communicate. The result of this type of politics is that any change will always be incremental, condemning present generations to place their hopes in an unattainable future. This is because pacts with highly asymmetrical disputes always end up favoring the stronger side (in this case, the groups that have always dominated the country).
The coup was the definitive confirmation of this type of politics. Only those who don't want to see it can't.
Furthermore, in capitalist democratic models, real progress for workers has only been possible after ruptures. In other words, believing in institutional frameworks to overcome profound crises, such as the one we are experiencing, is to bet on more of the same.
The PT, the most organized center-left political force and best positioned to compete with elite groups, needs to clearly define what kind of societal project it intends to pursue in the current context. Will it continue to rely on partnerships with segments of the establishment, or is it willing to lead lasting and effective transformation processes?
* This is an opinion article, the responsibility of the author, and does not reflect the opinion of Brasil 247.